Some major legislation was passed last night that will affect Americans and those in Australia.
1. Just in time for the holiday season, Patti LaBelle appeared on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live to talk about her famous holiday desserts and amazing career in music. On top of discussing her friendship with Mariah Carey—who she talks to twice a month— Labelle also talked about her good friend, Luther Vandross who passed away in 2005. “He did not want his mother to be [upset]–although she might have known–he wasn’t going to come out and say this to the world,” LaBelle said. (Bravo)
2. After four years on the air, TVOne has decided to cancel Roland Martin‘s News One Now morning news show. In a statement, the network says Martin will “continue to have a voice on #TVOne” but did not share in what capacity. (NY Daily News)
3. Gabrielle Union‘s memoir, We’re Going to Need More Wine, is already on its fourth print run. But some bookstores haven’t been giving it its full shine. Union revealed that she’s heard from fans that certain bookstores have been leaving her book in stacks on the floor or in carts in the back. “I started asking people to tell me what stores this was happening in,” she said. “You don’t want to alienate booksellers but where’s my book?” (New York Times)
4. Los Angeles voted to legalize recreational marijuana. The vote came down from City Council after months of debate about commercial sales and cultivation sites. While the ruling is ground breaking for L.A., many (including us) are curious about those previously incarcerated for doing what is now legal. (NBC News)
5. Months after the largest mass shooting in American history, the majority-Republican House passed a bill allowing individuals with concealed carry permits to carry firearms across state lines. The National Rifle Association has called this bill the “highest legislative priority.” (Washington Post)
6. Australia has made same sex legal after an overwhelming parliamentary vote. In addition to recognizing same-sex couples from other countries, the new law provides government benefits, employment and taxes and it changes the definition of marriage from “the union of a man and a woman” to “the union of two people.” (New York Times)
7. Joanne the Scammer’s show is in the works! The Internet personality created by Brander Miller does not have a network attached to the show yet, but it is being co-produced by Chelsea Peretti who’s married to Jordan Peele. As noted in previous reports, the show would expand on the sketches he has previously shared online. (Fader)
8. Well, that was fast: NBC has already set their sight on a replacement for Matt Lauer on The Today Show —and its rumored to be Craig Melvin, an anchor on MSNBC Live. Since he’s already a part of the NBC family, Melvin’s transition would be smooth but no official word has been made yet. (ET)